Funds received by department

1. All funds received by the department relating to the historical resources of the state, including but not limited to gifts, endowments, funds from the sale of memberships in the state historical society, funds from the sale of mementos and other items relating to Iowa history as authorized under subsection 2, interest generated by the life membership trust fund, and fees, shall be credited to the account of the department and are appropriated to the department to be invested or used for programs and purposes under the authority of the department as it relates to the historical resources of the state. Interest earned on funds credited to the department, except funds appropriated to the department from the general fund of the state, shall be credited to the department. Section 8.33 does not apply to funds credited to the department under this section. 2. The department may sell mementos and other items relating to Iowa history and historic sites on the premises of property under control of the department and at the state capitol. Notwithstanding sections 8A.321 and 8A.327, the department may directly and independently enter into rental and lease agreements with private vendors for the purpose of selling mementos. All fees and income produced by the sales and rental or lease agreements shall be credited to the account of the department. The mementos and other items sold by the department or vendors under this subsection are exempt from section 8A.311. 3. Notwithstanding section 633.63, the state historical society board of trustees may authorize nonprofit foundations acting solely for the support of the department as it relates to the historical resources of the state to accept and administer trusts deemed by the board to be beneficial to the department’s operations under this subchapter. The board and the foundation may act as trustees in such instances.